Iran to File Official Complaint with FIFA Over Travel Restrictions at World Cup

xtratime web desk: Iran's national football team is preparing to file an official complaint with FIFA over travel restrictions that it says have disrupted its preparations for the FIFA World Cup, according to a spokesperson for the Iran Football Federation on Thursday.

The federation claims that despite submitting its tournament preparation plans well in advance, restrictions imposed by the host authorities have repeatedly interfered with the team's scheduled training and travel arrangements.

Iran's next Group G match is scheduled for Sunday against Belgium in Los Angeles. To ensure adequate preparation ahead of the game, the team requested permission to enter the United States two days earlier from its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico. However, the request was reportedly denied.

"The match in Los Angeles will kick off at 12:00 p.m. local time," the federation spokesperson said. "We asked to arrive two days earlier so the players could adapt to the weather and local conditions. Despite explaining all the circumstances, our request was once again rejected."

Earlier this week, Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand in its opening World Cup match on Monday. Following that politically sensitive fixture, U.S. officials reportedly informed the Iranian delegation that after their group-stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle, the team would be required to leave the United States within a matter of hours.

The U.S. position was clarified on Tuesday. After their first match, the Iranian delegation had to leave the country promptly and return to their base camp in Mexico, a move that has drawn criticism from observers who argue that the team was not given sufficient time to rest and recover.

Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House FIFA Task Force, told CBS News that Iran had been informed in advance that it would only be allowed to enter the United States one day before each match.

"Iran's team will be permitted to enter the United States the day before a match and will be required to depart on the night of the game," Giuliani said. "The same rules will apply in Los Angeles and for their subsequent matches."

He added that the same arrangement would remain in effect for Iran's final Group G match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

Iran entered the World Cup after months of uncertainty. Ongoing political and military tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel had fueled speculation about whether the team would ultimately participate in the tournament.

Now, this latest dispute over travel arrangements has intensified off-field controversy surrounding the World Cup. The Iran Football Federation is expected to formally raise the issue with FIFA and hopes the governing body will intervene.